Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

I’m a big spinach fan, but I have a hard time getting the rest of my family to eat spinach, unless I bake it in something yummy. I’m very creative at adding spinach to recipes. I’ve made spinach scrambled eggs, spinach quiche, and spinach pizzas before. Spinach with pasta is one of my favorite combinations.

The recipe I have to share today is another one from the new Kellogg’s All Bran 10 Day Promise, which I’d really like to try in a week or two.  Right now we’re in the middle of the first of two county fairs we’ll be participating in, so not much cooking going on here until the first of September!

These spinach and cheese stuffed shells look really delicious.

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells Recipe

Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 package (8 oz.) jumbo pasta shells (24-26 shells)
• 2 egg whites – or – 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 cup low fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (4 oz.)
• 1 cup Kellogg’s® All-Bran® Original cereal (crushed to 2/3 cup)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided (1 oz.)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 jar (24 oz.) marinara sauce (2 1/2 cups)

How to make the stuffed shells:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, in medium bowl stir together egg whites, spinach, cottage cheese, feta cheese, Kellogg’s All-Bran Original cereal, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, oregano, pepper and garlic. Spoon cheese mixture into shells.
3. In 12 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish or 2-quart shallow casserole coated with cooking spray arrange shells, cheese side up. Sprinkle carrots on top. Pour marinara sauce over all. Tightly cover with foil.
4. Bake, covered, at 350º F for 55 minutes or until heated through. Remove foil. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350º 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

A couple more recipes from Kellogg’s All Bran 10 Day Promise:

• Tomato Artichoke Casserole
• Tuscan Apricot Berry Crostata